Rack for towels, etc.



Aug?, QZB. d

E. E. ERIKSEN RACK FOR TOWELS, ETC

Filed F'eb. 18. 1921 ug. 7, l923.

E. B. ERIKSEN RACK FOR TOWELS ETC Filed Feb. 18 1921 3 SheetS-Shee 2 Aug. 7, H923.

E. B. ERHKSEN RACK FOR TOWELS, ETC

Filed Feb. 18 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 7, 1923..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.EINAR B. ERIKSEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T BJORNULF JOHNSEN, OF

BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK.

Application field February To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, ElNAR B. Bumsen, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks for Towels, Etc., of which the following is a specification. y

v My invention relates to racks which are particularly adapted for use as towel racks for use in bath rooms, kitchens, etc. My invention is also adapted for carrying iiexible objects other than towels, with particular reference to its use as anautomobile robe rack.

T he invention comprises one or more fixed rods or cross members over which towels and other articles may be hung and a pivoted or movable rod or crossv member which is adapted to carry other towels or flexible articles, which may be swung upwardly into a position in front of the fixed rod or rods, in which position it is removably secured. The movable rod may also be swung or moved outwardly or downwardly into a different position in which the articles carried by the rods are separated a greater distance from each other.

Considerable advantages arise from this 3o construct-ion. ln the case of a towel rack for bath rooms and the like, towels may be mounted on the fixed rod or rods and on the folding or movable rod when the latter is in its lower, forwardly extending position. lin

37 this position the various towels may readily be removed from and replaced on the supporting members. When a towel has been used and replaced on the rack the movable arm is swung or moved upwardly and rearwardly into its upper position in which it is caught and held. In this position the towels are compactly arranged close together and close to the wall out of the way. There is also a further and very distinct advantage in that when so arranged the towels on the front or movable rod may be made to entirely cover and conceal ythe towels on the fixed rod or rods to the rear thereof. rlhus,

a guest towel may be hung over the movable rod and afservice towel, or a towel which is somewhat rumpled from use, hung over the rearward rod, out of sight.

For kitchen use several towels or dishcloths may be hung on each cross member of the rack to be dried while the cross mem- 1s/1e21. serial No. 446,095.

bers are in their extended position. When the towels are dried the movable arm is swung into 1ts upright position leaving the device in compact form. A similar device may edectively be used for an automobile robe rack, it only being necessary to Sudiciently secure the movable arm in its upright position to prevent the same from shaking loose during the vibration of the automobile.

The objects of the invention consist in the provision of improved devices and combinations of parts for the purpose referred to as will more fully be set forth hereinafter in the following specification and the appended claims.

ln order that a clearer understanding of the invention may be had attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and illustra-ting certain embodiments of the invention. lln the drawings Fig. l represents a front elevation of a towel rack, embodying one form of my invention, in its closed position, showing the towels broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view representing a partial end elevation of one of the supporting brackets and arm pivoted thereto, Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is an enlarged section, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, the movable arms of the device being shown in their outwardly extending or lower position, Fig. G is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but of a modified form of device in which three racks or supporting members are used, Fig. 8 is a partial plan View of the device shown in Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows shown above Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2 of a somewhat modified form of device and Fig. 10 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showing a further modification of the device.

Referring to the drawings l have illustrated a pair of brackets or side members l, 1 which are adapted to be fastened permanently to the wall 2. These members are preferably made right hand and left hand respectively and are shown as comprising web portions 21 and outwardly extending flanged portions 3.

The flange portions 3 of the supporting members are preferably extended forwardly or outwardly, at their upper ends as is shown at 4, these forwardly extending ears 4 serving as bearings or supporting means for the cross member 5 over which the towels or other articles 6 may be hung. The rod or cross member 5 is rigidly secured to the ears 4 in any suitable manner such for example as that shown in Fig. 6. As there shown the cross member 5 may be in the form of a tube having each en d thereof abut against the inner surface of one of the ears 4, a cylindrical block 7 being mounted within the end of the tubular member 5, this block having a screw threaded opening therein. A. screw 8 is secured into this threaded opening, through a suitable .opening in the ear 4, screw 8 having a shoulder 9 and a head or knob 10 on the outer side of the ear 4 so that each' screw may be adjusted into position to firmly bind cross member 5 to the said members at both sides. The cross member 5 will thus serve to stifl'en the construction.

The flanges 3 of the side members are preferably provided with forwardly extending portions 11 at their lower ends to which the lower endshof the arms 12 are pivotally connected. Preferably a pin and slot connection is used for mounting cach arm 12, the ear 11 of each side member being provided with a vertical slot 13 through which extends a pivot pin 14 secured to the arfn 12. This pivot pin may be provided with a head 15 at its outer end, which lis adapted to engage the outersurface of the ear 11 adjacent to the slot, the pin having its inner end riveted or otherwise suitably secured to arm 12 as is shown at 16.

A rod or cross member 17 extends between andV is carried by the outer or free ends of the arms 12. Rod 17 is secured in any suitable way to the arms 12 as by means of the screws 18 shown as extending through the arms into the end portions of the rod or cross member 17. The ends of the rod ,engage against the inner surfaces of arms 12 and thus serve to stiffen the construction. The arms 12 and the supporting side members 1 may conveniently be made of sheet metal. The rod 17 is adapted to carry one or more towels 19.

Provision should be made for supporting arms 12 in their outer or extended position. This may suitably be accomplished by providing the forwardly extending ears 11 of Y the side members with short horizontally extending bottom fianges 20 which serve to support arms 12 in horizontal forwardly extending position.

Provision must be made for removably securing arms 12 in their upper, approximately upright position, this means preferably being one which automatically engages when the arms are swung upwardly and disengages when a slight pressure is exercised to swing the arms forwardly and downwardly. This may readily be accomplished by the form of construction shown 1n Figs. 2 and 5 in which the arms 12 are provided with rearwardly extending hook portions 21. When arms 12 are swung upwardly and rearwardly hooks 21 will engage over the fixed rod 5 adjacent the ends thereof. With the construction shown, in which the hooks are sufiiciently long to ex tend somewhat beyond the vertical centre line of rod 5, a form of impositive lock will thereby be provided since the pin and slot connection at the bottom of arms 12 will enable hooks 21 to ride over the top of rod 5 and to be held thereon by the force of gravity. This construction is described by way ol example'and not by way of limitation since 1t will be obvious that hooks 21 might be sprung into position over rod 5 or some other form of suitable latching device used for catching and holding the hooks, or the upper end of arms 12, when the later reach their upper position.

The device so far described is illustrated 1n Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawing. A similar construction is shown in Fig. 9, in whlch a glass shelf 22 is mounted about the rack to support bottles or other articles. In this case the forwardly extending ears, 4, of the side brackets are provided with upwardly extending lugs 23 and the web p0rtlons 21 of the brackets are provided with upwardly, extending lugs 24, the shelf being secured on lugs 23 and 24. In all other respects the construction may be the same as that already described.

A further modification of my invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. As 1s there shown the stationary rack member 51 extends between the forwardly extending ears 41 of the side brackets 11 which are secured to the vertical wall 2 in the same manner as the brackets previously described. The cross rod 51 in this case is mounted part way between the web portions 21 of the brackets and the extreme forward ends of the ears 41 instead of being mounted adjacent to the forward ends ofthe ears as in the case of the construction first described.

In the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the arms 121 are pivotally secured to the lower ends of the forwardly extending flanges of the side brackets as is indicated at. 141, in the same manner as previously described. In this case. however, a plurality of cross rods or rack members extend between the arms 121. As is shown in the drawing, these cross rods may be, for example. two in number, 171 and 171, the cross rod 171 extending between the extreme forward ends of the arms and the rod 172 extending between the arms at points situated midway between the end of each arm.

llfl

gio

recaen The arms 121 are provided adjacent to their ends with rearwardly extending hooks 211. Horizontal means are provided adjacent to the forward ends of the ears 41 over which these hooks may engage when the arms are swun upwardly and rearwardly into their uprig t position. Such horizontal means preferably take the form of a pair of short studs 25 which are suitably secured to ears 41 adjacent tothe forward ends of the same.

With this construction a number of towels or other objects 61 may be hung over the stationary rack member 51 and towels 191 and 192 hung over the movable rack member 171 and 172. The arms 121 are supported in their horizontal forwardly extending position by the short horizontal brackets or ledges 201 which are formed at the bottoms of the langes 31 of the side brackets. When the towels have been so positioned, the arms 121 may be swung upwardly and rearwardly until hooks 211 engage studs 25 as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. With this construction the towels hung on the cross rods 171 and 172 may readily be arranged to conceal the towels which are hung over cross rod 51.

A somewhat different construction is shown in Fig. 10 which is intended particularly for use as an automobile robe rack. The movable arms must be secured more firmly to the stationary member in such a case than in the case of a towel rack because otherwise the vibration of the automobile mi ht disengage the same.

n the construction shown the forwardly extending ears 41 of the side brackets are provided with a stationary cross rack member 52 at a point intermediate the forward and rear ends of the ears 41 and with short studs 252 adjacent to the outer ends of the ears, the construction being similar in these respects to that just described. The arms 122 are pivoted at their lower ends to the brackets in a similar manner to that described above and carry at their upper or forward ends a cross rod 172.

'llhe pivotal connections between the arms 122 and the lower ends of the brackets may be made by means of pivot pins 142, the pin and slot connections previously described being omitted. Arms 122 are provided near their upper ends with spring hook members 26 which are adapted to spring over the studs 252 into a firm engaging position when the arms are swung upwardly and rearwardly into their upright positions. rlFhe spring hook members 26 may be secured to the arms by providing them with downwardly extending flanges 27 which are secured to the upper portions of arms 122 by means of pins or rivets 28. A cross rod 29 is also preferably provided to extend through the arms and the lower ends of ianges 27 to stiHen and strengthen the con# struction. Hooks 261 may also be provided on arms 122 to engage over studs 252 as in the previously described constructions, members 26 and 262 acting together to hold the movable member against disengagement.

With this form of my device, lap-robes or overcoats or the like may be hung over the cross rod 17 when the latter is swung forwardly. Arms 122 are then swung upwardly and rearwardly until the spring hook members 26 and hook member 261 engage over studs 252 to firmly hold the movable rack frame in position with the lap-robes, etc., hanging closely adjacent to each other. 'llhe rear ends 30 of the spring members 26 may be bent upwardly to. form handles which may conveniently be drawn upwardly to disengage members 26 from studs 252.

lt is thought that the operation of my de- 4vice will be entirely clear from the above description. lt will be noted that l have provided a stationary rack frame and a movable rack frame which may be swung or otherwise moved from a lower extended position in which the articles may be hung thereon into an upper or closed position in which the articles hung thereon will extend in front of the towels or other articles hung on the stationary frame so as to conceal the latter if that be desired. lt should be understood that my invention is not limited to the various forms of construction which havebeen specifically described, but that the same is as broad as is indicated by the accompanying claims.

`What i claim is.

1. ln a rack for towels and other articles, the combination of suporting means, a horizontal rod fixedly secured thereto, adapted to have fiexible articles hung over the same, arms non-removably pivoted to said supporting means, a horizont-al rod carried by the free ends of said arms, said supporting means having abutment means to support said arms in a lower forwardly extending position whenever said arms are swung downwardly and said arms being adapted to swing upwardly and rearwardly into an upright position in which articles on said second rod will entirely conceal articles hung on said first rod, the parts being so arranged that said second rod, in its raised position, will be at a height at least equal to that of said first rod. and impositive locking means for removably securing said arms in such upright position.

2. ln a rack for towels and other articles, the combination of av fixed cross member, adapted to support flexible articles, means for supporting the same forwardly from a vertical surface, arms non-removably pivoted at their lower ends, below said fixed cross member to said supporting means, a cross member carried thereby, means on llt) said arms, adapted to latch over said first cross member, for removably securing said arms in upright position with said!V second c-ross member in front of and spaced from said first cross member, and means for supporting said arms in a second position, with said second cross member at a lower level.

3. In a rack for towels and other articles, the combination of a air of side brackets, a horizontal rod exten ing between the same, a pair of arms, each non-removably pivotally connected at its lower end to one of said brackets, below said rod, a rod extending between the free ends of said arms, and means on said arms adapted to hook over said first rod, when said arms are swung upwardly towards upright position, to secure the same in position with said second rod in front of and adjacent to said first rod.

4. In a rack for towels and other articles, the combination of. a stationary member, adapted to be secured to a wall, comprising supporting members and a cross rack member, and a movable member comprising arms non-removably pivoted to said supporting members and a cross rack member, said movable member being adapted to swing from a lower, forwardly extending position to an upper position in which said second cross member is in front of said first cross member, said movable member having hook means adapted to removably secure the same, in its upper position, to said stationary member.

5. In a rack for towels and other articles, the combination of a stationary member, comprising supporting members and a cross rack member, and a movable member comprising arms non-removably pivoted to said supporting members and a cross rack member, said movable member being adapted to swing from a lower, forwardly extending position to an upper position in which said second cross member is in front of said first cross member, said movable member having devices adapted to coact with said first cross rack member to removably secure the same, in its upper position, to said stationary member, with said second cross rack member in front of and adjacent to said first cross rack member.

6. In a rack for towels and other articles, the combination of supporting means, a horizontal rod ixedly secured thereto, adapted to have flexible articles hung over the same, arms non-removably pivoted to said supporting means, a horizontal rod carried by the free ends of said arms, said supporting means having abutment means to support said arms in a lower forwardly extending position whenever said arms are swung downwardly and said arms be- 1ng adapted to swing upwardly and rearwardly into an upright position in which articles onv said vsecond rod will entirel conceal articles hung on said first ro the partsbeing so arrangedi that said second rod, 1n its raised position, will be at a helght at least equal to that of said first rod, and impositive locking means, including dev1ces carr1ed by said arms, for removably securing said arms in such upright position. 7 In arack for towels and other articles, the combination of a stationary rack member, adapted to be secured to a wall and to support fiexible articles, having supporting brackets and horizontal means, spaced from the wall, adjacent to the upper ends of said brackets, and a movable member comprising arms non-removably pivoted at their lower ends to said brackets and a cross rack member extendin between the upper ends of sald arms, a apted to swing from a lower position to an upper position in which articles on said cross rack member will hang in front of articles on said stationary rack member, said movable member having rearwardly-extending hooks adapted to hook over said horizontal means on said stationary member, when said movable member is 1n its upper position, to removably secure said movable member in its upper position.

8. In a rack for towels and other articles, the combination of a stationary rack member, adapted to be secured to a wall and to support flexible articles, having supporting brackets and horizontal means spaced from the wall, adjacent to the upper ends of said brackets, anda movable member comp-rising arms non-removably pivoted at their lower ends to said brackets with a pin and slot connection, and a cross rackf member extending between the upper ends of said arms, adapted to swing from a lower position to an upper position in which articles on said cross rack member will hang in front of articles on said stationaryl rack member, said movable member having hooks adapted to hook over said horizontal means on said stationary member when said arms are swung upwardly and raised bodily a slight distance, permitted by said pin and slot connections.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York this 15th day of February A. D. 1921.

EINAR B. ERIKSEN. 

